Method of making infolded knockdown boxes



April 30, 1-940. 5, T m 2,198,855

. METHOD OF MAKING INFOLDED KNOCKDOWN BOXES Filed Oct. 24, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 fins. 4. 1 112.51

FIG-.5

INVENTOR. ASHMUEL .fis asrfl/v. v

BY aeem azek ATTORNEYS.

April 30, 1940. s. BERGSTEIN METHOD OF MAKING INFOLDED KNOCKDOWN BOXESFiled Oct. 24, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF MAKINGINFOLDED KNOCK- I DOWN BOXES Samuel Bergstcin, Cincinnati, OhioApplication October 24,- 1938, Serial No. 236,691

6 Claims.

5 folded inwardly, and the remaining pair of opposite walls foldedoutwardly. When such a box is squared up for use, the outwardly foldedwalls retain their tendency to fiare outwardly, making a box that isdifiicult to pack efficiently, and one which is not neat in its finishedappearance. For

this reason, it has become a common practice 7 among producers of suchboxes, to refold the boxes inwardly prior to shipping them .to the user,which is an additional and expensive hand operation. However, in suchinfolded boxes, due to the fact that the diagonal fold line has beenfolded first outwardly and .then inwardly, the

resultis to produce ,a rather flimsy box, and it does not have asufiicient inward tendency to grip i the contents placed thereinsecurely.

There are other methods in use, to produce boxes in flat or knockdownform, having both the sides and ends folded inwardly, but most of theseinvolve either first gluing up the .box blank in l erect or uprightform, and thereafter collapsing it, which process does not lend itselfto highspeed production, or by the use of complex mechanisms whichconvey the box in twoor more positions relative to its direction ofmotion.

' By my invention as herein disclosed, I provide a method for makingknockdown boxes, with all sides folded inwardly, and with the diagonalcreases having been folded in one direction only, providing thereby abox which when erected does not have any tendency to bulge or fiareoutwardly, and this is one of the objects of my invention. Further, bymy process, the folding and gluing operation can be carried out bycomparatively simple high-speed mechanism, conveying the box in oneposition relative to its direction of motion, and which also may becarried out efliciently byhand or other means if desired.' Further, bymy invention I am able to produce such a knockdown box wherein there areno crevices or pinholes in the corners, providing a leak-tightcondition, which is a still further object of my invention. Y

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates my preferred blank in fiat form. a

Figure 2 illustrates the first stage of the folding operation.

Figure 3v illustrates the next stage in the folding operation.

Figure 4 illustrates a subsequent stage of folding, adhesive having beenapplied on the extending fiaps.

Figure 5' illustrates the final stage of folding, the flaps having beenfolded inwardly to over-lie the side walls as illustrated.

Figure 6 is a perspective of the above box in open position.

Figures '1 to illustrate an alternate method of folding and gluin'g mybox. The blank is the same as illustrated in Figure 1 and the initialstages of folding are the same, Figure 7 corresponding to Figure 2 andFigure 8 corresponding to Figure 3. As illustrated in Figure 9, however,being my alternate method, the corner flaps have been folded inwardly,and at that stage preferably adhesive is applied as illustrated. Figure10 is the succeeding stage after Figure 9, showing v the side wallsfolded in thereby securing the infolded side wall to the previouslyfolded corner flaps.

Figure 11 is a perspective of this box in open position.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatical illustration of one type of mechanismsuitable for carrying out my process.

Referring now to the drawings, the blank shown in Figure 1 has a mainbody panel A, side walls C and C and end walls B and B In these endwalls are located respectively lines of diagonal fold F--F and G--G.'Articulated to the edges of the end panel B are end flaps DD, andarticulated to the edges of end wall B are corner flaps EF-E, asillustrated.

In passing it should be noted that the use of the terms end walls and"side walls is for convenience only, the pair of opposite walls havingdiagonal lines of fold therein, with corner 40 flaps articulatedthereto, being designated as end walls, and the remaining pair ofopposite walls being designated as side walls, for the purposes ofclarity in description, and without reference to the relative dimensionof said walls. Referring now to Figure 2, the first stage of my methodis to fold reversely along the diagonal lines F-F and G-G, bringing thetriangular portions of the end walls defined by these dia'gso onallines, as well as the corner flaps, into position under-lyingthe blankas shown.

The next step, as illustrated in Figure 3, is to fold in the end walls Band B into position overlying the main body'panel, the previously foldedportions being retained in folded position.

The next stage of folding, as illustrated by Figure 4, consists infolding inwardly the two opposite side walls C and C all previous foldsbeing retained in folded condition. At this stage adhesive may beapplied to the extending corner flaps, or to the corresponding portionsof the side walls.

Thereafter, the final stage as illustrated in Figure 5, is to fold inthe extending corner flaps, over the previously folded in side walls Cand C and the folded box is thereupon placed under pressure to secureadhesion between the corner flaps and the side walls which theyover-lie. Thereupon the box is ready for shipment to point of use, whereit can be readily be opened for insertion of contents, merely by raisingeither pair of opposite walls.

In connection with the above description it should be pointed out thatifdesired-adhesive may be applied to the extending corner flaps at stage3, thereupon the remaining folds as shown in Figures 4 and 5 carried outas illustrated, as the particular stage at which adhesive is applied isimmaterial to the operativeness'of my process, just so long as adhesiveis introduced between the meeting surfaces of the corner flaps and theside walls, prior to folding the corner flaps inwardly to over-lie thepreviously infolded side walls.

Referring now to my alternate method as illustrated in Figures 7 to 10,the blank itself is the same as that illustrated in Figure 1. Theinitial stages of folding (7 and 8) correspond to the initial stages offolding previously described in connection with Figures 2 and 3.

After the blank has been folded into the position illustrated in Figure8, however, the next stage according to my alternate process is to foldinwardly the corner flaps, as illustrated in Figure 9. With all foldedportions being retained in folded condition, the opposite side walls Cand C are thereupon folded inwardly to over-lie the previously infoldedcorner flaps, adhesive having been introduced between the meetingsurfaces of the corner flaps and the side walls. This brings the boxinto the position shown in Figure 10, and after adhesion has beensecured by means of pressure or other means, the box as shown in Figure10 is-ready for use.

In Figure 12 I have illustrated diagrammatically a mechanism suitablefor carrying out the folding and gluing according to my preferred methodas illustrated by Figures 1 through 5. The machine as illustratedconsists of a timed feed mechanism, timed score breakers and twistbelts, a front spring guide, timed kicker, an overhead guide continuingto act as a hold down for the folded walls, timed glue wheel, additionaltwist belt, and a stacking conveyor.

The blanks are placed in a hopper l5, from which they are withdrawn oneat a time by the feed wheel l6, the direction of motion of the blankbeing parallel to the end walls. The blanks can be fed through themachine in timed relation by means of spaced pins on a chain as shown.

As the blanks begin theiradvance through the machine there are fourpairs of score breakers, consisting of an overhead wheel I! having a finor rib I8 thereon located at an angle, and an underneath wheel l9 havinga pocket 20 therein, these wheels operating in timed relation to thetravel of the blank, and each pair of wheels or score breakers servingto fold downwardly the triangular portion of the end panels, with thecorner flaps articulated thereto, along the diagonal lines of fold.

The folding of the advancing pair of corner flaps is completed by aguide plate 2|, and the folding of the rearward or trailing pair ofcorner flaps is effected by timed sweeps 22, which serve to complete thefolding along the diagonal lines initiatedby the score breakers,bringing the blank into folded position illustrated by Figure 2.

By means of guides the folded condition is retained and as the blankcontinues to advance, twist belts 23 serve to fold the end wallsinwardly, thereby bringing the blank into position shown in Figure 3.

As the blank now continues through the machine, the forward or advancingside wall comes into contact with the spring guide 24, located so as topress upwardly on the forward wall, and the folding of the forward wallis completed by stationary overhead guide 25 which the continued travelof the blank serves to bring the forward wall under. The rearward wallis folded inwardly by an overhead kicker 26, which is timed in relationto the travel of the blank, but which operates at a higher ratio ofspeed, serving to lift the rear wall forward and fold it down intoposition, the blank now' being in the condition illustrated in Figure 3.

With all folds now being retained in folded condition, the blank passesbeneath glue wheels 21 as illustrated, which deposit adhesive upon theextending corner flaps.

Thereupon, twist belts 28 serve to fold the corner fiaps' inwardly, andthe folded blank is delivered to a stacking conveyor 29, which serves tosecure adhesion of the blanks, the blanks upon entering the conveyorbeing in the condition shown by Figure 5.

Because the various mechanical elements shown in the diagrammaticalillustration are all known in the art, it has not been thought necessaryto explain their functioning or operation in detail. It can readily beseen, however, that a machine such as illustrated is capable ofaccomplishing the folding and gluing-operation described at high speed,and also it is a comparatively, simple mechanism to build and operatebecause of the fact that the blank travels in only one direction, auditis not necessary to change its position in relation to its direction oftravel.

It should also be pointed out that by a rearrangement of the partsillustrated, that is by replacing the timed kicker and spring guide bythe final twist belt shown, so that the corner flaps are folded inwardlyprior to the inward folding of the side walls, the alternate method asillustrated by Figures '7 to 10 may be carried out.

One important advantage ,of the knockdown box produced by my preferredmethod is that it makes possible a box with corners that are liquidtight. That is in my preferred construction since the corner flaps arefolded over the side walls, the corners of the finished box can befitted so closely that the usual pin holes or small openings found atthe corner portions of glued knockdown boxes are eliminated, therebymaking a boxduction of such a liquid-tight paper box is one of theobjects of my invention.

It is obvious that the boxes illustrated in the drawing may be used astrays; that is what is commonly known in the trade as boats or that twosuch boxes as shown can be telescoped together, making a two piece boxconsisting of a bottom and a lid. Or, if desired, an extra panel havingtucks or side flaps may be articulated to one of the side walls of theboxes illustrated,

thereby making a one piece box with hinged lid attached. All suchvariations are contemplated within the scope of my invention.

In regard to my method as disclosed, it is also,

possible, if desired, to raise the end walls of the blank prior tofolding back along the lines of other variations of my essential methodare included in the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and novel anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. That method of making infolded knockdown boxes from'blanks having amain body panel, a pair ofopposite side walls, and a pair of oppositeend walls, said end walls having diagonal lines of fold therein definingtriangular por tions and articulated thereto corner flaps, whichcomprises bringing said end walls into infolded position over-lying themain body panel with the triangular portions thereof and the cornerflaps folded back along said diagonal lines of fold, and thereafterfolding in said side walls to over-lie said folded triangular portionsand the main body panel, retaining all folds in folded condition, andfolding the corner flaps in to over-lie 'the previously folded sidewalls.

2. That method of making infolded knockdown boxes from blanks having amain body panel, a pair of opposite side walls, and a pair of oppositeend walls, said end walls having diagonal lines of fold therein definingtriangular portions' and ,articulated thereto corner flaps, whichcomprises bringing said end walls into infolded position over-lying themain body panel with the triangular portions thereof and the cornerflaps 1 folded back along said diagonal lines of fold, and thereafterfolding 'in said side walls to over-lie said folded triangular portionsand the main body panel, retaining all folds in folded condition, andfolding the corner flaps in to over-lie the previously folded sidewalls, adhesive having been introduced between meeting surfaces of saidcorner flaps and said side walls.

3. That method of making infolded knockdown boxes from blanks having amain body panel, a

pair of opposite side walls, and a pair of opposite end walls, said endwalls having diagonal lines of fold therein defining triangular portionsand articulated thereto corner flaps, which comprises bringing said endwalls into infolded position over-lying the main body panel with thetriangular portions thereof and the corner flaps folded back along saiddiagonal lines 'of fold, and thereafter folding in said side walls toover-lie said folded triangular portions and the main body panel,retaining all folds in folded condition, and folding the corner flaps into over-lie the previously folded side walls, adhesive having beenintroduced'between meeting surfaces of said corner flaps and said sidewalls, and thereafter applying pressure to secure adhesion.

4. That method of making infolded knockdown boxes from blanks having amain body panel, a pair of opposite side walls, and a pair of oppositeend walls, said end walls having diagonal lines of fold therein definingtriangular portions and articulated thereto corner flaps, which comprises moving said blank along and bringing said end walls into infoldedposition over-lying the main body panel with the triangular portionsthereof and the corner flaps folded back along said diagonal lines offold, and thereafter folding in said side walls to over-lie said foldedtriangular portions and the main body panel, retaininglines of fold, andthereafter folding said end walls inwardly to over-lie the main bodypanel, folding in said side walls to over-lie said folded triangularportions and the main body panel, retaining all folds in foldedcondition, and folding the corner flaps in to over-lie the previouslfolded side walls.

' 6.. That method of making infolded knockdown boxes which comprisesproviding blanks having a main body panel, a pair of opposite sidewalls,

- taining all folds infolded condition, and folding the corner flaps into over-lie the previously folded side walls, adhesive having beenintroduced between meeting surfaces of said corner flaps andsaid sidewalls.

SAMUEL BERGS.

